Tsai S Y, Chen J D, Chao W Y, Wang J D
Department of Neurology, Provincial Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 10018, Republic of China.
Environ Res. 1997;73(1-2):146-55. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1997.3704.
At six paint factories in northern Taiwan, 325 workers participated in a detailed evaluation that included medical and occupational questionnaires, blood sampling, neurobehavioral tests, vibratory perception threshold tests, and thermal perception threshold tests. Because of cultural differences, a Chinese test battery was modified from the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System 2. Eleven tests were performed: finger tapping, continuous performance, associated learning, symbol-digit, pattern comparison, pattern memory, visual digit span, switch attention, associated delayed recognition, mood scales, and vocabulary. Air concentrations of organic solvents were measured by passive personal samplers and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that major solvents to which the workers were exposed were toluene, xylene, n-hexane, methyl iso-butyl ketone, and n-butyl acetate. The exposure index (EI) was classified by different exposure patterns and different air concentrations in the breathing zone as follows: EI 0, nonexposure; EI 1, low exposure; and EI 2, high exposure (the medians of 8-hr hygienic effects were 0, 0.03, and 0.25, respectively). Because of their diverse socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics, the workers were divided into two groups for additional analysis: one group comprised white-collar workers, including technicians and administrative staff, and the other comprised blue-collar workers. By using multiple linear regression analysis controls for age, sex, education, and alcohol intake, significant associations were found between increased exposure to solvent mixtures and performance on some neuropsychologic tests. In the blue-collar group, significantly prolonged response latencies were observed in the tests of continuous performance, pattern comparison, and pattern memory. Among white-collar workers, significant impairment was observed in the continuous performance test. All three tests involved visual attention and perceptual (speed and memory) functions. It was concluded that these may be the earliest neurotoxic signs of occupational exposure to low-level organic solvents in paint manufacturing workers.
在台湾北部的六家油漆厂，325名工人参与了一项详细评估，该评估包括医学和职业问卷、血液采样、神经行为测试、振动感觉阈值测试以及热感觉阈值测试。由于文化差异，对神经行为评估系统2进行了修改，形成了一套中文测试组。共进行了11项测试：手指敲击、连续作业、联想学习、符号数字、图案比较、图案记忆、视觉数字广度、注意力转换、联想延迟识别、情绪量表和词汇测试。通过被动式个人采样器测量空气中有机溶剂的浓度，并采用气相色谱法进行分析。结果表明，工人接触的主要溶剂为甲苯、二甲苯、正己烷、甲基异丁基酮和乙酸正丁酯。根据不同的接触模式和呼吸带中不同的空气浓度，将接触指数（EI）分为以下几类：EI 0，无接触；EI 1，低接触；EI 2，高接触（8小时卫生效应的中位数分别为0、0.03和0.25）。由于工人的社会经济地位和人口统计学特征各不相同，因此将他们分为两组进行进一步分析：一组为白领工人，包括技术人员和行政人员，另一组为蓝领工人。通过多元线性回归分析控制年龄、性别、教育程度和酒精摄入量后，发现溶剂混合物接触增加与某些神经心理学测试表现之间存在显著关联。在蓝领组中，连续作业、图案比较和图案记忆测试的反应潜伏期显著延长。在白领工人中，连续作业测试出现了显著损伤。这三项测试均涉及视觉注意力和感知（速度和记忆）功能。研究得出结论，这些可能是油漆制造工人职业性接触低水平有机溶剂的最早神经毒性迹象。
